Iran's surveillance state tightens, Indonesia enforces blasphemy laws, and Saudi women see small gains. Plus, join us for the HaRamadan Special celebrating International Atheist Day!

No images? Click here [link removed]

A Glimpse at Religious Oppression

This week, the Unbelief Brief provides a chilling look at the expanding reach of authoritarianism. Iran intensifies its surveillance tactics to enforce its mandatory hijab law, including the use of drones and facial recognition technology. Meanwhile, a ridiculous blasphemy sentence in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia’s partial reforms for women underscore the ongoing struggles for freedom and equality in the region.

But there is hope for change, and we're excited to invite you to a special event celebrating the defiance and resilience of those who challenge religious oppression. Join us for the HaRamadan Livestream Special [[link removed]] on March 22, 2025, as we mark International Atheist Day during the final week of Ramadan! Details in On the Horizon!

Unbelief Brief

Dystopia in Iran continues its march, as a UN report now confirms [[link removed]] the regime is “increasingly” employing electronic surveillance, including drones, in order to enforce its mandatory hijab policy. “Facial recognition technology” is also being utilized, according to [[link removed]] The Telegraph. The UN reporters additionally “said they obtained the Nazer [translation: to gaze at or surveil] mobile phone app offered by Iranian police, which allows ‘vetted’ members of the public and the police to report on uncovered women in vehicles, including ambulances, buses, metro cars and taxis.” Such omnipresent surveillance truly mirrors Orwell’s image of a “boot stamping on a human face forever”—not shocking whatsoever of the Iranian government.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, a rare application of the blasphemy law against a Muslim in defense of another religion—but still just as absurd as any other application of the law. Ratu Thalisa, a trans woman and TikTok influencer, joked [[link removed]] last October that Jesus should get a haircut, since his long hair made him look “like a woman.” She has now been sentenced to three years in prison, a total mockery of anything resembling a justice system. Even a cardinal in Indonesia has spoken out [[link removed]] against the sentence, arguing that Jesus himself would have taken the joke in good humor and laughed.

In a piece of somewhat better news, last month Saudi Arabia amended its personal status law to increase the freedoms enjoyed by women. While the new provisions are a step in the right direction, without full legal autonomy, women remain, at best, second-class citizens in the country. Under the new law [[link removed]], women can request to “...transfer guardianship from an unjust or negligent male guardian, even without a prospective suitor present,” and courts can “override a guardian’s objection to a woman’s marriage if deemed unreasonable.” Better would be the total abolition of the male guardianship system. And, more importantly, the rot in Saudi Arabia runs far deeper [[link removed]] than a domestic legal system that denies women rights and does not regard them as full citizens. To leave this all-consuming sickness of misogyny in the past will require much more than some placating half-measures of reform.

On the Horizon

Ex-Muslims of North America is pleased to organize a 2-hour live online event with Ex-Muslims International for celebrating International Atheist Day during the last and holiest week of Ramadan! This HaRamadan Special brings together Ex-Muslim activists, organizations, health and mental health professionals, authors, artivists, organizers, and leaders to share their experiences, challenges, and perspectives on the holy month of hangry games as godless non-believers.

Don’t miss this global gathering of infidels and apostates uniting in defiance, resilience, and celebration of the disbelief in Allah during Ramadan.

🗓️Date: Saturday, March 22, 2025

⏰Time: 10:00 AM EDT (New York City), 2 PM GMT (London)

📍Location: Live on YouTube [[link removed]]

See you there!

Until next week,

The Team at Ex-Muslims of North America

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Share your feedback at [email protected].

make a contribution [[link removed]]

Whether it’s giving $5 or $500, help us fight for a future where all are free to follow their conscience.

get to know more about our mission [[link removed]]

[[link removed]] Share [link removed] Tweet [link removed] Share [[link removed]] Forward [link removed]

© 2024 Ex-Muslims of North America. All rights reserved.

Read EXMNA's Privacy Policy [[link removed]] here

You're receiving this because you've subscribed to EXMNA for regular updates and insights. If you no longer wish to receive our emails, you can unsubscribe below.

Preferences [link removed] | Unsubscribe [link removed]